By:  Arc

Level: 3

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

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Director and Writer: Biodun Stephens

It is the season of Faith based movies, after the hugely successful GOD CALLING; Biodun Stephens delivers another Faith themed master class. The full package, an emotionally charged story that would move you to tears as God’s peace washes over you at the end.

The movie didn’t have a cute Jesus/angel to sell (Ademola Adedoyin in God calling) and despite its many flaws, it dragged itself all the way up to 7 on my 1-10 movie rating scale. Blossom Chukwujekwu (Lamide) didn’t quite put up a great performance, still can be overlooked, as we have learnt from LEVI, it takes more than an awesome performance from the lead actor to make a movie. I would start out with the good:

• Great Story
• This movie was made on a budget and I must say- “Money well spent.” Christ Living Spring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) must be so proud. The lazy and cost effective directing style of 2 people in 1 house still pushes the message of the movie in the same way multiple locations and a crowded cast would have done.
• “Enemies Within! In Shape of Husband”, has the potential to become a huge viral meme
• Dream foreshadowing: In a world where we are being treated to Game of Thrones mastery of this art from the other side of the world, it sure warms the heart to see this trick played at home. The way the simultaneous dreams threw science right out the window and ushered in the supernatural is impressive in its own right but playing with our thought process and moving us from “ritualistic” to “Divine premonition” deserves rounds of applause.
• Display of African Attire: Full marks on this one; it was almost a taboo for English clothing to appear here. The right way to go if we are to continue preaching Nigeria first.
• Themes: This movie confronted FAITH, A WIFE’S EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL, SUICIDE (the recent rave of the moment) and RAPE in one fell swoop. A great movie when you look back. One could write a themed book around any of these from 60 minutes plus of this movie.
• The Happy Ending: The movie would move any soft person to tears but ensures you wear a smile at the end and look up to the heavens.

Alright, now I move over to the hard part- THE BAD. As always I run the risk of sounding overtly critical:

• Drab opening scene; this movie started out as an unpleasant reluctant sexual escapade, your head is not really into it and things gets interesting only when she takes off her clothes.
• Enado Odigie’s acting: Blossom’s performance wasn’t great but it passed for good. Enado’s portrayal of Ore was definitely below good. She didn’t fool anybody when she pretended her plantain was burning; that scene should go into the “How not to act while acting” hall of fame.
• What kind of man cannot tell the difference between frantic knocking and an actual break in?
• Everyone in the auditorium predicted the rape (By everyone, I mean myself and a couple. 3 is definitely an improvement to lone me watching KNOCKOUT BLESSING. WE MUST FIND A WAY TO GET NIGERIANS TO STAND BEHIND OWN MOVIE INDUSTRY, HOLLYWOOD MEDIOCRE STORIES E.G JOHN WICK GETS PACKED AUDIOTORIUMS WHILE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE SEE OUR BLOCKBUSTERS SAVE IT IS WEDDING PARTY, AY OR FALZ ATTRACTIVE…THIS MUST CHANGE) and we were not disappointed.
• Lamide’s reaction to his wife getting raped was absolutely unacceptable. SO SO RIDICULOUS. He just watched? We could forgive the first thrust; he was in shock even though all the guy had on him was a mere meat cleaver. The second thrust? You should snap right out your shock and FIGHT! I mean he is well built and there was no AK 47 trained to this head. No man should go through that and not SNAP, watch your wife get raped then listen to the thug tell the other thug to go have a taste. Some men would agree they would rather die than watch such happen (the second time). We all agree that preserving life is important but you down right have to fight if there is even the slightest chance you can overpower two hungry guys with a meat cleaver with the advantage of one being stuck deep in your wife to react. This is why I am an advocate of karate being taught in schools and the issuance of licensed guns to all SANE men. Self defense is vital in life’s jungle.
• Lamide’s refusal to go the extra mile @ “I have come before you just the way you made me” scene. He should have stripped, I guess CLAM’s frowned at that, you don’t want to lead our good sisters to sin.
• The rushed abi vague explanation of the 40 days fasting, the rape and 42 weeks gestation period: The only thing wrong here is that they had me breaking my skull after the movie trying to put 2 and 4 together.

I sincerely hope I didn’t give too much away as I would love people who would source for this (obviously not still showing at the cinemas) movie to watch and enjoy it with some level of suspense.

End Note: I believe if this story was properly funded (production and publicity) with better casting it could have become one of the great Nollywood exports.

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

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